Providing HIV Education for Health Professionals in India

Although around 5 million people in India have HIV/AIDS, there is limited access to information, diagnostic facilities and drugs. In recent years there has been an increase in the use of antiretroviral therapy in line with WHO global initiatives. A team from an Australian HIV centre provided education for nurses and laboratory technicians at urban and rural locations in India in 2005. The aim was to ensure that the antiretroviral therapy which would become more widely available was used correctly, to optimise response and limit the potential for antiviral resistance. The workshops were rewarding and participants requested further education opportunities and a wider range of topics.